It’s open enrollment season—the time where employers present workers with their health insurance options for the next calendar year. If your expected costs for 2013 are higher than what you’re currently paying, don’t be surprised.

Although many affluent Americans are still taking a “wait and see” approach to their finances, signs of recovery are clear. According to a new study from Merrill Lynch, affluent Americans may have accepted that “economic uncertainty is the new normal,” but there is home on the horizon.

Economic issues have dominated the political conversation in recent years. And this election season, we’ve heard more about them than ever before. Can you predict how a state is going to vote based on the credit profile of people who live there?

For homeowners who owe more on their home than it’s currently worth, convincing the bank to accept less money than the loan is the only way to sell. But there are drawbacks. Here’s what you need to know about short sales.

(source) 1. In a pinch? EmployersÂ are more often allowingÂ 401(k) withdrawals for hardship, but there’s a cost. {MoneyCrush} 2. Being the landlord is a way to own property and earn cash, but there’s a risk to weigh. Should you look into rental properties as an additional income? {LittleMissMoneybags} 3. Like many new year’s resolutions, the economic

(source) 1. Are bribes becoming more socially acceptable? Is it just the way the world works or is there something wrong with giving or taking a bribe. {Bargaineering} 2. US stocks rebound after Japanese earthquake. Oil prices are slumping as predictions forecastÂ a decrease inÂ demand from Japanese consumers. {USA Today} 3. With gas prices leaping up

(source) 1. There’s about a month left until this year’s tax filing deadline. Â Here are 16 tax deductions you want to make sure you don’t miss. Â {Wisebread} 2. Americans are paying less into FICA this year. What does that mean for you? {Moolanomy} 3. Republicans axed housing programs intended to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. They

(source) 1. States across the Union are in trouble financially. Wisconsin’s governor is seeking to correct this by taking down the workers’ unions. How might this affect the American worker? {The Daily Show} 2. Getting a tax refund? Here’s how NOT to spend it. {MSN Money} 3. What are the four different types of taxes,